A new documentary by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit alleges that then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered lethal force against protesters during the July 2024 uprising. Secretly recorded phone calls purportedly feature Hasina issuing “open orders.” According to the report, the uprising resulted in over 1,500 deaths and 25,000 injuries, with security forces allegedly firing 3 million rounds. The documentary highlights incidents including aerial shootings, five inconsistent post-mortem reports of Shaheed Abu Sayeed, and deliberate internet blackouts. The Awami League has rejected the allegations as fabricated and denied any use of lethal force on Hasina’s orders.